Cops: IRS phone scams in Lower Providence under investigation

LOWER PROVIDENCE — On June 25 at approximately 3:20 p.m. police met with a resident in the 2500 block of Swan Circle regarding a possible phone scam.

The victim told police she was contacted by an individual with a thick Middle Eastern or Indian accent, claiming to represent the IRS. The caller told her that she owed $3,500 in back taxes due to discrepancies in her returns from 2008 through 2012. The caller stressed the importance of settling the debt and requested the resident call him back with her Social Security number to initiate payment. The number he left had a Utah area code.

The victim called the suspect back and was informed that unless she went to the bank and got the money out in short order, she would face over $40,000 in fines, a revocation of her passport and 11 years in jail.

As the victim continued to question the suspect, he became agitated. He called her “stupid” and began making vulgar comments and using profanity.

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Police advised the victim that this was probably a scam.

The victim was especially concerned because the suspect knew her home phone number and address. The victim indicated to police that she intends to change her phone number as a result of the incident.

Another resident met with police to discuss a possible phone scam at 12:51 p.m. The victim told authorities he was contacted by a man named “Eric Foster” claiming to be from the IRS. The victim’s caller ID displayed a phone number with a Washington D.C. area code.

The suspect told the victim he needed to pay $2,985 to settle a tax debt.

The victim realized it was a scam and contacted police.

Thief targets cash registers at business

LOWER PROVIDENCE — At 11:40 p.m. on June 24 police were alerted to a security alarm going off at a business in the 2500 block of Audubon Road. Police noticed the building had a broken front window and there was change strewn on the floor, inside and outside of the building. Once inside, police noticed a cash register dedicated for PA lottery sales was on the floor on top of some change, and another cash register had its drawer open. A hammer with a blue rubber handle was also found on the floor. A store representative arrived and determined that $40 in cash and a $67 dollar check were missing. A K-9 unit was brought in but could not track a suspect. No surveillance video was available.

Insurance card stolen from unlocked vehicle

EAST NORRITON — On July 3 at 2 p.m. a resident came into the police station to report a theft from his vehicle, which was parked in the 2000 block of Old Arch Road. The victim told police that he left his car unlocked while he went into an eatery to pick up a meal. He returned to find his glove box open and his vehicle insurance card missing. Nothing else was taken.

Trailer without power after thief swipes cord

EAST NORRITON — At 5:41 p.m. on July 3 officers responded to the 3200 block of Kennedy Road for a reported theft. The victim told police that two days prior, someone had stolen the electrical cord supplying his trailer by unscrewing a securing ring that held it in place. The victim requested additional police patrols in the neighborhood.

Dirtbike stolen from back yard

EAST NORRITON — On July 7 at 5:32 p.m. police responded to the first block of Crimson drive for the report of a stolen motor vehicle. The victim said that his green and yellow Kawasaki dirt bike had been stolen from his back yard. According to the victim, whoever stole the bike must have pushed it some distance because its motor wasn’t operational. The victim did not know the bike’s VIN number but stated the bike is worth approximately $3,000. Upon receiving the pertinent information, the bike will be entered into the National Crime Information Center’s stolen vehicle database.

Cops: Motorcycle stolen in Norristown

NORRISTOWN — On July 9 at approximately 5:05 p.m. police responded to the 1200 block of Swede Street for a reported burglary and motor vehicle theft.

The victim told police that sometime after July 5, someone broke into his garage and stole his motorcycle. The garage door handle was broken off and the garage’s rear window was damaged.

Two screwdrivers and two pliers found under the broken window were taken into evidence.

Vending machine at middle school vandalized

NORRISTOWN — On July 9 at 3:25 a.m. police were called to the 1600 block of Markley Street near Eisenhower Middle School for a reported disturbance.

Officers arrived to find a drink dispensing vending machine overturned in the driveway portion of the school’s parking lot. The machine was damaged and appeared as if someone had tried, unsuccessfully, to open its money compartment.

Car hood damaged by cinder block

NORRISTOWN — A resident in the 500 block of Basin Street called police to report a case of vandalism at approximately 5 a.m. July 9.

The victim was awakened by a loud noise followed by her car alarm going off. She went outside and discovered that a cinder block had been thrown on the hood of her vehicle causing considerable damage. The victim told police she didn’t have problems with anyone and didn’t know who would want to damage her property.

Grandmother scammed

WHITEMARSH — A grandmother contacted police July 3 to report she had been scammed. The victim told police that at 4:45 p.m. she was contacted by someone she believed to be her grandson. He was crying and told her that he was in jail in Colorado. A “prison guard” got on the line and gave her specific instructions for sending money in order to get her “grandson” out of jail.

The victim complied and read confirmation numbers to four Green Dot Moneypak payments totaling $2,000 to the suspect.

The victim became suspicious while waiting for her grandson to call. She eventually contacted her grandson who told her he was OK and wasn’t in jail.

Money stolen from vehicle

WHITEMARSH — On July 5 at 2:11 p.m. a resident called police to report that his car, parked in the 4000 block of Fairway Road, was broken into. Money in the amount of $98 was stolen from the center console.

$40,000 watch, cash stolen from vehicle in West Norriton

WEST NORRITON — A golfer reported to police that cash and a Rolex watch were stolen from his vehicle in the parking lot at the Westover Golf Course between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. June 28. Cash in the amount of $950 along with a Submariner Rolex with diamonds and sapphires at the number positions. The watch is valued at $40,000. There were no signs of forced entry and there is no surveillance camera coverage in the part of the parking lot where the theft took place.

Former business owner victimized by fraud

WEST NORRITON — A resident came into the police station at 3:45 p.m. June 24 to report a possible case of fraud. The victim told police he had recently closed a business and sold a tablet counter for $7,000, a cottoner for $1,000 and a conveyor belt for $500, to an Illinois-based pharmaceutical company. The transaction was made via Paypal.

On June 19, the victim was contacted by the shipper who told him the items were being returned. Paypal told the victim that the buyer was returning the items because they were damaged. The victim was advised to open a claims case, but that he would have to accept the returned items for the case to be considered.

The victim received the returned items at his new place of business and discovered more than $1,000 worth of components were missing from the cottoner. The tablet counter was not shipped at all, and a large, empty metal cabinet was sent in its place.

The case has been forwarded to detectives for further investigation.

Resident reports fraudulent charges

WEST NORRITON — On July 1 at 8:30 p.m. a resident came into the police station to report a fraud. The victim said that while balancing her checkbook she came across four purchases she did not make. Three purchases for $28.95 each, were made in Decatur, Ga. The other charge was a $541.86 purchase made at a Toys R Us in Nanuet, N.Y. The victim’s bank was made aware of the fraud, and police are investigating how the victim’s account was compromised.

Equipment stolen from business

WEST NORRITON — At 12:10 p.m. July 1 police responded to the 1900 block of West Marshall Street for a reported theft. A business owner told police that an electronic control module and 11 sheets of aluminum-coated, marine-grade plywood were taken from the property. The total cost of the items is $2, 570.

Motorcycle stolen

WEST NORRITON — A motorcycle was stolen from the first block of Meadow Lane between 9:30 p.m. June 30 and 4 a.m. July 1. The victim told police he left work to change his clothes and arrived at his residence to find that his $4,000, 2001 Harley Davidson was gone. The vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center’s database.

Rocking chair stolen from porch

WEST NORRITON — At 11:30 a.m. June 30 police responded to the 300 block of Spring Circle for a reported theft. The victim told police that his wicker rocking chair, valued at $100, was stolen off his front porch.

$98K car bought with bad check

WHITEMARSH — Just after 4 p.m. June 23, police were contacted by the assistant manager of Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington regarding an automobile purchased with a bad check.

The salesperson received a call from a detective with the West Long Branch Police Department in Monmouth County, N.J., who detective informed him that while surveilling a suspect, he located a vehicle from the dealership, probably purchased through fraudulent means. A representative from the dealership investigated the case and contacted the suspect’s bank, which informed him that there was less than $200 in the suspect’s account. The suspect had purchased the vehicle with a check for $98,418.20.

The detective from Long Branch is investigating the suspect in connection with several other fraudulent purchases of high-end cars in New York and Philadelphia using bad checks. Dealership officials declined to press charges, but want the vehicle returned.

Sign vandalized

WHITEMARSH — Police responded to the 200 block of Woodcock Lane for a case of vandalism reported June 24 at 11:28 a.m. A representative from Spire Builders told police that a company sign on a job site had been damaged and taken to the ground. The sign will reportedly cost $2,200 to replace.

Items stolen in neighborhood vehicle thefts

WHITEMARSH — A spate of overnight thefts from vehicles in the same neighborhood were reported to police June 26.

A pair of sunglasses was stolen from a vehicle in the first block of Forsythia Court. A Bluetooth speaker, two car chargers, a bag of quarters, a pocket knife and a windbreaker were stolen from a vehicle on the third block of Viburnum Court. A $1,500 laptop computer and a $100 Michael Kors bag were stolen from a vehicle in the first block of White Pine Court, and a GPS unit, phone charger and Bluetooth were stolen from a second vehicle on the first block of Forsythia Court. The sunglasses stolen from the first vehicle on Forsythia Court were recovered from the second. Three of the four vehicles had been left unlocked.

Vehicle stolen

NORRISTOWN — On July 1 at approximately 12:30 p.m. a resident came into the police station to report that his vehicle had been stolen. The victim told police he parked his 2004 white Ford Crown Victoria in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Locust Street at approximately 1 a.m. When he returned to the lot at 9 p.m., the car was gone.

Man threatens neighbor with machete

NORRISTOWN — On July 1 at 10:52 p.m. police responded to the first block of Jacoby Street for a report of a man with a weapon. A verbal argument between two male neighbors, allegedly started over trash cans in the backyard of a residence, escalated and one of the men entered his truck, emerged with a machete and began to threaten the other man.

Police confiscated the machete and placed the suspect into custody. He was taken to the station and held pending arraignment.

Pizza delivery person robbed

NORRISTOWN — Police responded to the robbery of a Papa Guido’s delivery person in the 600 block of Corson Street just before midnight July 1. The victim told police that he was robbed by two males at knifepoint when he walked behind a building after a failed attempt to deliver a pizza.

The robbers are described as black males, between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, both wearing dark-colored jeans and dark, hooded sweatshirts with the hoods pulled tightly around their faces.

The suspects took the victim’s cell phone, Pennsylvania ID card, watch and sneakers, as well as $135.

Police made contact with the residents of the apartment where the delivery was supposed to have been made. They acknowledged ordering the pizza, but told police it never came. They said they had no knowledge of the robbery. Surveillance footage from the area where the robbery occurred will be reviewed by police.

Woman reports real estate fraud in West Norriton

WEST NORRITON — On June 26 at 3:50 a.m. a resident came into the police station to report a case of fraud.

The victim told police that she saw an apartment in the 1800 block of Sterigere Street advertised for rent on a website called Hotpads.com and inquired about the property. On June 23 she received an email from someone posing as the legitimate owner of the property indicating that $800 was needed as a deposit and $1,600 was needed to move in. The email also told her to disregard any realtor’s signage on property because it used to be for sale.

The victim called Re/Max and spoke to an agent who informed her that the house remained on the market. At this point, she knew this was a scam.

On June 25, the victim received a text message welcoming her to her new home. When she called the number from which the text was sent, she received a text from a different number that read, “Can’t talk now...I’ll call you later.”

The victim didn’t suffer any monetary loss and provided all paperwork, emails and texts regarding the case to investigators.

Father and son busted shoplifting at Walmart

WEST NORRITON — Police were called to the Walmart at 650 South Trooper Road for a retail theft reported at 1:40 p.m. June 26.

Loss prevention personnel told police that two men were seen placing clothing and other merchandise into reusable bags, placing the bags into a shopping cart and covering the bags with groceries.

The suspects then went to a checkout line where they paid for the groceries but not the items in the bags.

The suspects — a father and son — were detained by Walmart security and found to be in possession of $568.02 of unpaid merchandise. They were transported to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility for processing and arraignment.

Police investigate computer repair fraud

WEST NORRITON — On June 26 at 7:30 p.m. a resident came into the police station to report a fraud.

The victim told police that he was contacted the previous day by someone claiming to work for Microsoft. The caller told the victim that viruses and spam could be removed from his computer for a fee of $395.

The victim provided the caller with his bank credit card to access the funds.

Two hours before the victim came into the station, he was again contacted by the caller, requesting an additional $495 to “unlock” his computer, at which point the victim became suspicious.

While at the station, the victim called his bank and had his credit and debit cards canceled. The bank refunded the $395.

Two women caught with drugs and paraphernalia in parking lot

WEST NORRITON — Just before 6 p.m. June 23, police arrested two female suspects after they were caught with drugs and paraphernalia in a parking lot in the 400 block of Center Avenue.

Police noticed the two women sitting in a vehicle in the lot focusing on their laps. Both suspects appeared to be concealing items when they noticed police approaching. Police searched an envelope, a purse and a cigarette pack in the vehicle and found two crack pipes and six bags of crack cocaine.

UPPER MERION — Between 5 p.m. July 1 and 5 a.m. July 2, the side windows and mirrors of four dump trucks were smashed at Victor Saladino Trucking located at 500 E. Valley Forge Road.

Watches targeted in burglary

UPPER MERION — Police responded to a burglary that occurred in the 100 block of Matsonford Road between 8:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. June 26. The living room window of a residence was smashed with a piece of flagstone. The home was ransacked and several high-end watches were stolen.

Vehicle stolen

UPPER MERION — A vehicle was stolen from a parking lot in the 500 block of Steven Drive between 2 and 10:30 p.m. June 29.

Golf clubs stolen from trunk of vehicle

UPPER MERION — Between 10:30 p.m. June 26 and 7 a.m. June 27, golf clubs and other items were stolen from the trunk of a vehicle parked in the 100 block of Lemonton Way.